Light board

ABSTRACT

A light board for a light fixture includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes at least one light emitting element, and the second portion includes at least one light emitting element. A first state is defined by the second portion being coupled to the first portion and a second state is defined by the second portion being detached from the first portion. In the first state, the light emitting elements of the first portion and the second portion are configured to provide an evenly distributed light output along at least the combined length of the first portion and the second portion. In the second state, the at least one light emitting element of the first portion is configured to provide an evenly distributed light output along at least the length of the first portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of prior-filed U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/146,653, filed Apr. 13, 2015, the entirecontents of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The present application relates to light fixtures, and particularly to alight-emitting diode (LED) board for a light fixture.

Conventional light fixtures include a reflector and a board supporting anumber of LEDs. The board is in electrical communication with a powersource and a programmable driver for controlling the output of the LEDs.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a light board for a light fixture includes a firstportion and a second portion. The first portion includes at least onelight emitting element, a first end, and a second end. The secondportion includes at least one light emitting element, a first end, and asecond end. The first end of the second portion is detachably coupled tothe second end of the first portion. A first state is defined by thesecond portion being coupled to the first portion and a second state isdefined by the second portion being detached from the first portion. Inthe first state, the at least one light emitting element of the firstportion and the at least one light emitting element of the secondportion are configured to provide an evenly distributed light outputalong at least the combined length of the first portion and the secondportion. In the second state, the at least one light emitting element ofthe first portion is configured to provide an evenly distributed lightoutput along at least the length of the first portion.

In another aspect, a light board includes a first portion, a connectingportion, and a second portion. The first portion includes at least onelight emitting element, a first end, and a second end. The connectingportion is detachably coupled to the second end of the first portion.The second portion includes at least one light emitting element, a firstend, and a second end. The first end is detachably coupled to theconnecting portion. The first state is defined by the first portion, theconnecting portion, and the second portion being coupled togethersequentially, and a second state is defined by the connecting portionand the second portion being detached from the first portion. In thefirst state, each light emitting element of the first portion and eachlight emitting element of the second portion are configured to providean evenly distributed light output along at least the combined length ofthe first portion and the second portion. In the second state, eachlight emitting element of the first portion is configured to provide anevenly distribute light output along at least the length of the firstportion.

In yet another aspect, a light engine including a light board and adriver. The light board includes a first portion and a second portion.The first portion includes a plurality of first light emitting elementsand defines a first end and a second end. The second portion includes aplurality of second light emitting elements and defines a first end anda second end. The first end of the second portion is detachably coupledto the second end of the first portion. The light board defines a firststate in which the second portion is coupled to the first portion anddefines a second state in which the second portion is detached from thefirst portion. The driver controls power supplied to the first lightemitting elements and the second light emitting elements. The driver isprogrammed to provide a first power output across the first lightemitting elements and the second light emitting elements when the lightboard is in the first state. The driver is programmed to provide asecond power output across the first light emitting elements when thelight board is in the second state.

Other aspects will become apparent by consideration of the detaileddescription and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a light fixture including alight board.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the light fixture of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the light board of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the light board of FIG.3.

FIG. 5 is a reverse plan view of the portion of the light board of FIG.4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the portion 6-6 of the light board ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the light board with asecond strip detached from a first strip.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the light board with aconnecting portion detached from a first strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understoodthat the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and the arrangement of components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the following drawings. Thedisclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or ofbeing carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. Use of “including”and “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein is meant toencompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well asadditional items. Use of “consisting of” and variations thereof as usedherein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter andequivalents thereof. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms“mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variationsthereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirectmountings, connections, supports, and couplings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a portion of a light fixture 10. In oneembodiment, the light fixture 10 is used in a commercial or industrialenvironment. The fixture 10 includes a housing 14, a reflector 18positioned within the housing 14, and a bracket 22 coupled to thehousing 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 14 includes anend 24 and a pair of side surfaces 26. Only one end 24 is shown in FIGS.1 and 2, but it is understood that a similar end is positioned at theother end of the housing 14. In some embodiments, the housing 14 issecured to a ceiling. It is understood that the housing 14 and thereflector 18 may have a different shape.

The bracket 22 is secured to the housing 14, e.g., by one or more firstfasteners 28. The housing 14 and bracket 22 support a light engineincluding a light board 30 and a driver 90 (FIG. 2). The bracket 22supports the light board 30, which includes multiple light emittingelements 34. In the illustrated embodiment, the light board 30 issecured to the bracket 22 by second fasteners 36. The fixture 10 mayalso include a lens (e.g., a refractor or diffuser—not shown) coupled tothe housing 14, and the lens may extend between the ends 24 and at leastpartially between the side surfaces 26. The lens may cover the lightboard 30 to provide a desired light distribution for the light emittedby the light emitting elements 34. The lens may cover at least a portionof the reflector 18 and bracket 22.

As shown in FIG. 3, the light board 30 is a printed circuit board (PCB)supporting the light emitting elements 34. In the illustratedembodiment, each light emitting element 34 is a light emitting diode orLED. The light board 30 is formed as an elongated strip includingmultiple sections or portions or light strips 38 arranged in a linearmanner. In the illustrated embodiment, each light strip 38 has a uniformlength, and each light strip 38 is coupled to an adjacent light strip 38by a connecting portion 42. That is, the light board 30 is dividedsequentially into the follow sections: a first light strip 38 a, a firstconnecting portion 42 a, a second light strip 38 b, a second connectingportion 42 b, a third light strip 38 c, etc. In the illustratedembodiment, the light board 30 includes eight light strips 38 a-h andseven connecting portions 42 a-f positioned between the adjacent lightstrips 38. In other embodiments, the light board 30 may include fewer ormore light strips 38 and connecting portions 42.

As shown in FIG. 4, each light strip 38 defines a first end 50 and asecond end 54 opposite the first end 50. In the illustrated embodiment,the second end 54 a of a first light strip 38 a is detachably coupled tothe first connecting portion 42 a which is in turn detachably coupled toa first end 50 b of a second light strip 38 b. Similarly, the second end54 b of the second light strip 38 b is detachably coupled to the secondconnecting portion 42 b which is in turn detachably coupled to a firstend 50 c of a third light strip 38 c. The junction between each lightstrip 38 and each adjacent connecting portion 42 includes a perforation62 to facilitate breaking or severing each respective light strip 38from the adjacent connecting portion 42. In the illustrated embodiment,each perforation is 62 is formed by a series of small holes 64 (FIG. 6)extending through the light board 30. The holes 64 are aligned along aline extending perpendicular to the length of the light board 30. Inother embodiments, the perforation 62 may be formed in another manner,and/or the holes 64 may be formed in a different pattern or aligned in adifferent direction.

In the illustrated embodiment, each light strip 38 includes sixindividual light emitting elements 34 connected in series. FIG. 5illustrates the reverse or side of the light board 30, including thecircuitry for providing power to the light emitting elements 34 of eachstrip, according to one embodiment. The total voltage across each lightstrip 38 is 36 volts, and the voltage across each light emitting element34 is 6 volts. In other embodiments, each light strip 38 may includefewer or more light emitting elements 34 and/or the voltage across eachlight strip 38 and each light emitting element 34 can be varied.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, each light strip 38 includes a hole 66positioned adjacent each end 50, 54 of the light strip 38. One of thesecond fasteners 36 (FIG. 2) can be inserted through each hole 66 tosecure the light strip 38 to the bracket 22 (FIG. 2). In someembodiments, the second fastener 36 may be inserted into only some ofthe holes 66 along the length of the light board 30 (e.g., only theholes 66 proximate each end of the light board 30).

In the illustrated embodiment, each light strip 38 also includeselectrical contact points 68 proximate each end 50, 54 of the lightstrip 38. The electrical contact points 68 permit an end 50, 54 of thelight strip 38 (after the strip 38 has been broken from the connectingportion 42) to be electrically connected to another light strip 38,e.g., by soldering. In other embodiments, an end surface (not shown) ofeach light strip 38 adjacent the connecting portion 42 may include atleast one contact point (not shown). When the connecting portion 42 isbroken and separated from the light strip 38 at the perforation 62, thecontact point is exposed and may be connected to an adjacent light stripby abutting and soldering the end surfaces of the light strips 38 suchthat the contact points engage one another.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the light strips 38 positioned at each end ofthe light board 30 include a driver terminal 70 configured to receive anelectrical connector 74 in communication with a driver 90 (FIG. 2). Thelight board 30 further includes grooves or cutouts 82 formed along oneof the edges of the light strip 38. The electrical connector 74 mayinclude two lead wires 78, each of which is positioned within one of thecutouts 82. The lead wires 78 pass through a wireway and are connectedto the driver 90. The cutouts 82 permit the edges of the light board 30to fit flush relative to the bracket 22 and reflector 18.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, during manufacture and/or assembly, anoperator may modify the length of light board 30 by separating one ormore strips 38 from the board 30. The number of strips 38 to be retainedand separated depends on the desired length of the board 30. To adjustthe length of the light board, one of the light strips 38 b is brokenfrom the connecting portion 42 a (FIG. 7). In one embodiment, theconnecting portion 42 is also broken and separated from the otheradjacent light strip 38 a (FIG. 8). That is, when the light board 30 isreduced in size to achieve a desired length, one end 50, 54 of a lightstrip 38 is positioned at each terminal end of the light board 30without any connecting portion 42. In some embodiments, the light strips38 can be broken and separated from the adjacent connecting portion(s)42 by hand (i.e., without requiring any tools).

The severability of the light strips 38 and connecting portions 42 insmall increments permits a user to modify the overall length of thelight board 30 based on a length of the light fixture 10. As a result, alight board 30 having a single length can be adapted for use in a widerange of fixtures instead of requiring multiple light boards to befabricated individually for specific fixtures. In addition, because thelight board 30 can be adjusted and particularly in small increments, thelight board 30 can be configured to extend along the full length (orvery nearly the full length) of the fixture 10. As a result, the lightboard 30 can provide continuous ambient light and reduce dark zones orshadows within the fixture 10. Each light strip 38 and connectingportion 42 has a length measured in along a direction extending betweenthe ends of the light board 30. In one embodiment, each light strip 38has a length of approximately 2.8 inches and each connecting portion 42has a length of 0.2 inches so that one light strip 38 and one connectingportion 42 have a combined length of 3 inches. The light board 30 can beadjusted in increments of 3 inches. As a result, a light fixture 10 canbe formed in any multiple of three inches, and the light board 30 can beadjusted to accommodate the entire length (or very nearly the entirelength) of the fixture 10. The connecting portions 42 have a relativelyshort length, and removing a connecting portion 42 provides clearancefor the light board 30 to be inserted behind the reflector 18 of thefixture 10 and attached to the bracket 22.

The light strips 38 are powered by a programmable driver 90 (e.g.,positioned in the housing 14—FIG. 2). The driver 90 is adjusted by anoperator/installer to provide the desired voltage and power outputacross the length of the light board 30 based on the customized lengthof the light board 30. For example, when the light board 30 includes twolight strips 38, the driver 90 is programmed to provide a first poweroutput across the combined length of the two strips 38 and therespective connecting portion 42. When the light board 30 includes onelight strip 38, the driver 90 is programmed to provide a second poweroutput across the length of one light strip in order to maintain an evenlight distribution. The programmable driver 90 therefore ensures thatthe light board 30 provides a desired light output that is evenlydistributed along the length of the light board 30. The modular natureof the light board 30 allows the board 30 to be adjusted in relativelysmall increments while still providing an efficient light output. Thelight board 30 includes a modular structure and is powered by aprogrammable driver, thereby permitting the light board 30 to have acustomizable length and to provide evenly distributed light along thelength of the light board 30.

Although certain embodiments have been described in detail, variationsand modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or moreindependent aspects as described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A light board for a light fixture, the lightboard comprising: a first portion including at least one light emittingelement, a first end, and a second end; a connecting portion includingno light emitting elements and coupled to the second end of the firstportion; a first perforation positioned between the first portion andthe connecting portion at which the connection portion will detach fromthe first portion due to the application of a bending stress; a secondportion including at least one light emitting element, a first end, anda second end, the first end coupled to the connecting portion; and asecond perforation at which the connecting portion will detach from thesecond portion due to the application of a bending stress.
 2. The lightboard of claim 1, further comprising a third portion including at leastone light emitting element, the third portion defining a first end and asecond end, the first end of the third portion coupled to the second endof the second portion; and a third perforation positioned between thesecond portion and the third portion at which the third portion willdetach from the second portion due to the application of a predeterminedbending stress.
 3. The light board of claim 1, wherein the combinedlength of the first portion and the connecting portion is no longer thanthree inches.
 4. The light board of claim 1, wherein the second end ofthe first portion includes a first contact point, wherein the first endof the second portion includes a second contact point capable of beingin electrical communication with the first contact point.
 5. The lightboard of claim 1, wherein each light emitting element of the firstportion is configured to be controlled by a programmable driver, whereinthe driver is programmed to provide a first power output across thefirst portion and the second portion when the first portion is coupledto the second portion, wherein the driver is programmed to provide asecond power output across the first portion when the second portion isdetached from the first portion.
 6. A light board comprising: a firstportion including at least one light emitting element, a first end, anda second end; a connecting portion including no light emitting elementsand having a different length than the first portion, the connectingportion coupled to the second end of the first portion; a firstperforation positioned between the first portion and the connectingportion at which the connection portion will detach from the firstportion due to the application of a bending stress; a second portionincluding at least one light emitting element, a first end, and a secondend, the first end coupled to the connecting portion, and a secondperforation at which the connecting portion will detach from the secondportion due to the application of a bending stress.
 7. The light boardof claim 6, further comprising a second connecting portion including nolight emitting elements and coupled to the second end of the secondportion, and a third perforation positioned between the second portionand the second connecting portion at which the second portion willdetach from the second connecting portion due to the application of abending stress; and a third portion including at least one lightemitting element, the third portion defining a first end and a secondend, the first end of the third portion coupled to the second connectingportion; and a fourth perforation positioned between the secondconnecting portion and the third portion, at which the second connectingportion will detach from the third portion due to the application of abending stress.
 8. The light board of claim 6, wherein the combinedlength of the first portion and the connecting portion is no longer thanthree inches.
 9. The light board of claim 6, wherein the second end ofthe first portion includes a first contact point, wherein the first endof the second portion includes a second contact point is capable ofbeing in electrical communication with the first contact point.
 10. Thelight board of claim 6, wherein each light emitting element of the firstportion is configured to be controlled by a programmable driver, whereinthe driver is programmed to provide a first power output across thefirst portion and the second portion when the first portion is coupledto the second portion, wherein the driver is programmed to provide asecond power output across the first portion when the second portion isdetached from the first portion.
 11. A light engine comprising: a lightboard including a first portion and a second portion, the first portionincluding a plurality of first light emitting elements, a first end, anda second end, the second portion including a plurality of second lightemitting elements, a first end, and a second end, the first end of thesecond portion being coupled to the second end of the first portionabout a perforation positioned between the first portion and a secondportion at which the second portion will detach from the first portiondue to application of a bending stress, the light board defining a firststate in which the second portion is coupled to the first portion anddefining a second state in which the second portion is detached from thefirst portion about the perforation; a connecting portion including nolight emitting elements and positioned between the second end of thefirst portion and the first end of the second portion, the connectingportion coupled to the second end of the first portion by theperforation; and a driver for controlling power supplied to the firstlight emitting elements and the second light emitting elements, thedriver being programmed to provide a first power output across the firstlight emitting elements and the second light emitting elements when thelight board is in the first state, the driver programmed to provide asecond power output across the first light emitting elements when thelight board is in the second state.
 12. The light engine of claim 11,further comprising a third portion including a plurality of third lightemitting elements, the third portion defining a first end and a secondend, the first end of the third portion coupled to the second end of thesecond portion about a second perforation at which the connectingportion will detach from the second portion due to the application of abending stress, wherein the light board defines a third state in whichthe third portion is separated from the second portion about the secondperforation, while the second portion remains coupled to the firstportion, wherein, in the first state, the third portion is coupled tothe first portion through the second portion, and the first lightemitting elements, the second light emitting elements, and the thirdlight emitting elements are configured to provide an evenly distributedlight output along at least the combined length of the first portion,the second portion, and the third portion, wherein, in the third state,the first light emitting elements and the second light emitting elementsare configured to provide an evenly distributed light output along atleast the combined length of the first portion and the second portion.13. The light engine of claim 11, wherein the combined length of thefirst portion and the connecting portion is no longer than three inches.14. The light engine of claim 11, wherein the second end of the firstportion includes a first contact point, wherein the first end of thesecond portion includes a second contact point in electricalcommunication with the first contact point when the light board is inthe first state.
 15. The light board of claim 1, wherein a first stateis defined by the second portion being coupled to the first portion anda second state is defined by the second portion being detached from thefirst portion about the first perforation or the second perforation,wherein, in the first state, the at least one light emitting element ofthe first portion and the at least one light emitting element of thesecond portion are configured to provide an evenly distributed lightoutput along at least the combined length of the first portion and thesecond portion, wherein, in the second state, the at least one lightemitting element of the first portion is configured to provide an evenlydistributed light output along at least the length of the first portion.16. The light board of claim 15, further comprising a third portionincluding at least one light emitting element, the third portiondefining a first end and a second end, the first end of the thirdportion coupled to the second end of the second portion; and a thirdperforation positioned between the second portion and the third portionat which the third portion will detach from the second portion due tothe application of a predetermined bending stress, wherein a third stateis defined by the third portion being detached from the second portionabout the third perforation between the second portion and the thirdportion while the second portion remains coupled to the first portion,wherein, in a first state, the third portion is coupled to the firstportion through the second portion, each light emitting element of thefirst portion, the second portion, and the third portion beingconfigured to provide an evenly distributed light output along at leastthe combined length of the first portion, the second portion, and thethird portion, wherein, in the third state, each light emitting elementof the first portion and each light emitting element of the secondportion being configured to provide an evenly distributed light outputalong at least the combined length of the first portion and the secondportion.
 17. The light board of claim 6, wherein a first state isdefined by the first portion, the connecting portion, and the secondportion being coupled together sequentially, and a second state isdefined by the connecting portion and the second portion being detachedfrom the first portion, wherein, in the first state, the at least onelight emitting element of the first portion and the at least one lightemitting element of the second portion are configured to provide anevenly distributed light output along at least the combined length ofthe first portion and the second portion, wherein, in the second state,each light emitting element of the first portion is configured toprovide an evenly distribute light output along at least the length ofthe first portion.